Treasure Digest

• The Heavens Opened
• Dachau: Praying for the End of Suffering
• The Pulls of Babylon
• Turning the Hearts . . . Caring for Your Elderly Parents, Part 3
• Children’s Corner
• Share Your Treasures!

The Heavens Opened

Stephen was a young man who was committed to serving God, and he seems to have been a potentially great leader in the growing Church. Yet God allowed him to be stoned to death! Standing there and consenting to this cruel act was Saul, who later became Paul the apostle (Acts 8:1).

No doubt remembering what Stephen had done gave Paul added impetus to do what seemed to have been the impossible in his lifetime. It prodded and inspired him to serve God in such a remarkable way. Paul wrote more about how to love and serve God than any other New Testament writer. It seems he suffered as much or more than other disciples (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). He went to his death with courage and conviction (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

As Stephen was being stoned, he saw "the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56) and witnessed a powerful sight that sustained him through the horrible ordeal. And so too for Paul—though in a different way—"the heavens opened." God gave him what he needed to make it through his trials.

What about you and me? Will God give us the courage and strength we really need when we are facing the greatest trial in our existence? Will the "heavens open" for us too? Is there some sort of assurance God gladly gives to those who love Him and keep His commandments?

God does not always grant a person a view into the heavens as young Stephen was given, but in other ways that do comfort and strengthen His children, He sends whatever they need to have the courage to stand fast at the point of their greatest trial.

The words of Psalm 23:4 are well known to anyone who reads the Scriptures. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

God has been called the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). He comforts us in all of our troubles.

Even in the darkest moment for each of us, His "rod and staff" comfort us—the heavens open in some way—the way that is the very best for you and for me.

—Robert Berendt
Pastor of the Edmonton, Alberta, congregation

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Dachau: Praying for the End of Suffering

In 1979, while stationed overseas in the military, I visited one of the former Nazi concentration camps in Dachau, Germany. At the entrance to the site was a wrought iron gate with the words "Arbeit Macht Frei," which means "Work Makes One Free." What a twisted message for a place where such heinous crimes took place!

As I have learned over the years, it is the truth that makes one free. "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32, New Revised Standard Version).

At one location, consisting of several rectangular concrete slabs, were the remnants of former buildings. These structures, which had long since been torn down, had housed the concentration camp prisoners.

Finally, the most moving part of my visit was a series of still standing ovens where the bodies of dead prisoners had been cremated. Even though it had been more than 30 years since the end of World War II, it still retained the distinct odor of death.

Looking back, I take comfort in the knowledge that all such suffering will end. For it says in Revelation 21:4: "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.''

In the not-too-distant future, our great, powerful and awesome God will take over the imperfect governments of this world and usher in His perfect government that will never fail and will show mankind a better way. God hasten that day!

—Ray Prater
Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation

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The Pulls of Babylon

We in God's Church made a decision at some point not to live in Babylon.

In antiquity Judah was assaulted, defeated and taken captive. But after 70 years the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and begin again the rites of the temple. Many returned, but more did not. They had found a home that worked for them. They stayed in Babylon by choice.

Many remained observant, but probably some were enveloped and sucked right into that maelstrom of frenetic life in the Babylonian system.

As Christians, the choice is still ours, but in my opinion, it is even harder to remain true to God's way of doing things today. Although ancient Babylon was worldly, wise and wealthy, modern Babylon operates by a steady stream of reverberating and unremitting requests for our attention. Even if you don't "shop till you drop," it is hard to avoid the materialistic impulse that is inherent in every ad that says, "You need this; you deserve this!"

We must candidly admit that, were it not for God's Sabbath, we too—God's own people—would have no time for anything else except servicing our "labor saving" devices. We may possess more stuff than any people of the past ever imagined, but we have virtually no time at all. This fact would be simply ironic except that that loss of time (to reflect and pray and study) has been part of Satan's plan ever since the Eternal created the Sabbath.

We all are free to choose how we spend the 24 hours that come to us each day. Many say that they must spend unseemly amounts of time at work or on the road or on the freeway so that they may enjoy a modicum of what others call the "good life." In fact, they are reaping exactly what they have sown. Choices were made before and the results could have been foreseen as the natural consequence of those choices.

You can always do Bible study. You can always pray. But too often we don't because we have previously chosen amiss. Everything, both good and bad, in Satan's world can and will be used against us so that prayer and Bible study won't happen—unless we treasure them and give them the highest priority.

—Skip Miller
An elder in the San Diego, California, congregation

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Turning the Hearts . . .
Caring for Your Elderly Parents, Part 3

In part 2 we looked at how the aging parents might be feeling. Now let's turn to the children and their views of the situation.

Howard Clinebell Jr., in his book Growth Counseling for Mid-Years Couples, writes, "One of the most difficult experiences of mid-years couples is the reversal of roles, as aging parents become increasingly dependent on them—emotionally if not physically. Seeing the once-competent parents we love waste away and lose their ability to handle and enjoy life is an agonizing experience for everyone involved" (1977, page 65).

The children of aged parents now must give care to their parents. They wonder how much they should give and worry about its effect on their own family situation. Often there is division in their immediate household over how much the son or daughter is going to be involved. The mate may feel too much time is being devoted to the in-laws. Resentment over having to face this may develop.

There may also be strife among the siblings over who's not pulling their weight.

No matter how much love the child has for the parents, he or she may feel bitter for being trapped. One may feel that he doesn't want to be very involved but harbor guilt pangs for not caring. As parents begin to face impaired senses, the child can find himself or herself getting irritable toward them. Emotional outbursts can occur against the aged parents. As the burden becomes heavier, the thought of "it might be better if they died" may enter. Such thoughts are often followed by self-condemnation.

Realizing the parents need the family but not knowing how much and exactly what to do add to the dilemma of the child. Carroll Kennedy says, "Middle-aged children become increasingly supportive as their parents move into the later years of old age" (Human Development: The Adult Years and Aging, 1978, page 307). The time has come for children to give the love back to their parents (1 John 4:19 gives us this principle).

Next time we'll explore some possible solutions.

—Gary E. Antion

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Children's Corner

Poem: Unleavened Days of Bread

Alexis Lowery of the Eugene, Oregon, congregation was 10 when she wrote this poem and drew this artwork last year. It was sent in by Gerald Bilyeu.

Get rid of baking powder, baking soda and yeast,
Don't eat leavening at God's second feast.

It represents getting rid of sin,
You should eat bread not puffed up, but thin.

Go to church, skip work, skip school,
God's second feast is very cool.

Dress up, comb your hair,
Go to church, sit in a chair.

Then you listen to the sermon, talk and eat unleavened food.
Share with everyone, don't try to be rude.

You don't eat leavening for seven days,
Out of your house leavening stays.

Leavening stays off my plate,
I think Unleavened Days of Bread is great!

Learn more about the Days of Unleavened Bread in the booklet God's Holy Day Plan.

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Share Your Treasures!

Do you have any short items of biblical wisdom, humor or practical information that you would like to share in this section? Or if you have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org.

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